Wow! I had no idea that there were these types of issues with unethical VA's. As someone who is researching this type of business, I am glad to have come accross this thread. It's very important for me to work with the best folks around. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.

Laura

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Laura Kelly-Pifer

Ethics are important in every industry however there are those only out for personal gains. This only leads to regulations and standards that can place limits on how business is conducted.

Ethics is a discussion that occurs in any industry and the interesting thing is that the ones discussing ethics are usually the ones with ethics. I'd be curious to see if anyone who has skipped out on making a payment, or a VA that completely disregards any agreements would speak up.

In regards to have a governing body, lawyers have the bar yet this doesn't stop some lawyers from being unethical, doctors have the hippocratic oath yet you hear stories of doctors disregarding treatment of patients, accountants have their governing body yet you still hear of accountants taking money from their clients and on and on it goes.

No matter the industry there will always be people who are unethical and try and cheat the system. It's unfortunate and I'm not completely sure that a governing body will stop those unethical folks from still trying to operate. We as an industry simply need to promote our standards and also let clients have the know the difference by providing tips and insight into the differences between those with standards and those without and at the same time call out those who don't live up to the expected standards for the VA industry.

For those who have ethical standards simply work your business in an ethical manner and you WILL stand out from the others.

My twenty-five cents (inflation!)

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Renee, WordPress Video Training Use coupon VAForum25 to save 25%

Hence, my decision and talking it over with my husband about having the owner of the company I'm working for over and giving her notice that I am going out on my own. For those who don't know, a year ago she called me and said she was getting out of the business to become a Sales Director and since she cannot be a Sales Director and own a company that solicits that sales force, she was going to turn the company over to me. We moved from our home and family up to where she lives 7 months ago. She took a month, showed me how she processes credit cards, invoices, etc.. all of which I have been doing since we moved up here. She was supposed to be building her sales team toward her directorship. In 7 months, she has done nothing but make excuses. Her son has underage drinking charges, her grandmother has dementia (in a nursing home), and her mother is ill. Financially, we cannot wait on her any longer. She's making no effort.
We plan on telling her what our plans are in advance. I have no intention of either informing the clients I have of hers that I have my own business or soliciting their business. She will have 2 choices. She becomes my client and I continue to service those 13 clients out of her 22 (4 of them are in a 30 day notice to cancel services) until she is ready to let me absorb them into my business. Or, she can find someone to replace me (good luck with that). I currently have no contract with her business under her new ownership (her husband owns it now, figurehead), as she never had me sign the new contract.
I don't want to go behind her back, I want to be honest and above board with this. i want to start this business with full integrity intact, unlike her with some certain unethical practices. I don't believe my business can be blessed unless I can hold my head up and say that I have done my best.

I think that all of you have valid points, but Renee says it best when she says that every ethical board still has members that somehow squeak through. I too am an ethical person (I won't even make a promise if it's not something I can hold myself to without any doubts) and am constantly being told I trust too easily and that just because I'm honest doesn't mean everyone in the world is. I wish there was an easy answer of how to make people act ethicly, but sadly there just isn't one.
Not unless we can use an invisible fencing method that their collar would give them a small electrical shock whenever they acted unethical!

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Serita Diana, the List 2 Close Assistant
REVA Academy

i wish there was too. All we can do is try to be the best example that we can be, and when we find one, weed them out.

Originally Posted by mksdesignss

I want to be honest and above board with this. i want to start this business with full integrity intact.

And truly, this is what the whole ethics issue comes down to - a personal choice to do what you KNOW is right, irregardless. There will always be unethical people but, as stated above, this doesn't mean the issue should be swept under the table, it simply means that each and every one of us must guard ourselves from 'slipping' into gray areas.

People who choose to behave unethically will not prosper for long. Plain and simple.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

Right on, Kimberly!

In whatever I do, I do it fairly and would never think of screwing someone else over. It's just not in my nature.

I've been screwed over by people so many times, it's difficult to keep a count. I just don't see how anyone can do that to someone, not to mention shoddy work. When it comes to that, how can anyone be proud of work that is less than their best? It's beyond me.

Work hard, be proud and play fair. That's what I live by

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Tony Thomas - Social Media
Download Your Free Copy of Market Samurai

I"ve learned that if someone screws you over, you learn from it, get over it, and move on. Can't let it drag you down!